Means to prevent the spread of tuberculosis



contagious lung maladies.

;expected to prevent the spread of disease.

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 tenets- PATENT OFFICE MEANS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF TUBERCULOSIS Frederick B. Kilmer, New Brunswick, N. J., as-

signor to Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 7, 1933, Serial No. 692,695

2 Claims.

The invention relates to sputum receptacles for use by persons afilicted with tuberculosis or other lung maladies manifesting highly contagious sputum, and particularly to sputum cups of the inexpensive throwaway type and such as can be conveniently carried in a pocket or handbag.

Most hospitals and sanatoriums are properly equipped to prevent spread of disease through the sputum voided by patients suffering from highly But the public at large is not safeguarded against the indiscreet and careless habits of one suffering from the disease and yet not hospitalized. This is due more to the delinquencies of the afflicted person than to lack of facilities inasmuch as various and sundry forms of sputum cups have heretofore been proposed. Some of them are good but all suffer the disadvantage that they depend on the user to maintain such conditions as reasonably may be In short, paper envelopes or cups have been provided, the intent being that they should be burned after use, but not infrequently they are carelessly laid aside until a more opportune moment presents ;itself to burn them and, when there are no facilities for burning, they are thrown into trash receptacles and even thoroughfares, and this notwithstanding that the average informed individual should be well aware that the sputum of tuber- ;oular victims in a dry or dust-like state is the principal source of the spread of the scourge. And the situation is not at all ameliorated when recourse is had, as has been proposed, to the use of ordinary antiseptics.

It is an object of my invention to provide means which will safeguard the public despite the delinquencies of the afliicted one, and this means reduced to practice is a pad of cotton, lint, cellulosic fiber, or other suitable absorbent material,

impregnated with a substance known to be instantly destructive to the tubercular organisms.

While the impregnated article is adapted for use with any of the conventional types of sputum cups, it probably has more of an appeal from the quantity production standpoint when it is embodied in the cup which I have devised for the purpose.

The nature, characteristic features, and scope of the invention, more readily will be understood from the following description taken in connec- Fig. 3 is a back elevational view,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the cup is formed, having an impregnated pad or liner associated therewith.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the blank and its complemental liner.

In the practice of my invention, I impregnate a pad-like sheet of absorbent cotton, lint, cellulosic fibers, or other approved absorbent material, with a chemical that is stable over reasonable periods and qualified to act immediately and destructively upon the tubercular germ or organism. Examples of such are phenol, and its derivatives, methyl blue, organic mercurial salts, formaldehyde, chlorine compounds, etc. The absorbent material, treated as stated, is placed in a suitable receptacle for sputum, which after use may be disposed of in any convenient way, and even if carelessly or negligently kept upon the person or thoughtlessly laid aside for opportune disposal cannot be, either in the wetted or dry state, a source of germ spread because the sputum has been thoroughly disinfected and rendered harmless.

In the further advancement of my inventive thoughtI provide a blank of general T-form, that is to say, an elongated sheet 5 of waterproof paper or cardboard, having offset portions or wings 6 ranging substantially half the length of the blank. Superimposed on the blank 5 is the pad or liner 7 aforementioned already treated as stated or so treated after it is arranged on the blank.

The blank, in its fiat state, has a diamond score 8, a transverse score 9 to provide a flap or cover 10, edge scores 11 for the wings 6, and a medial score 12. The blank is doubled upon the latter score and when secured in that relation by pasting thewings upon the face of the doubled portion, as shown in Fig. 2, provides the pouch-like receptacle or cup shown in Fig. 1, the diamond scored area facilitating a maximum flared opening in response to pressure exerted on the flanks.

It will be observed that the so-called diamond score is continued at one extremity through the fiap and this contributes in no small Wise to the opening action and to the flared mouth. And when, as is preferred, the pad or liner is integrated with the cup, as by pasting it thereto, it follows the shaping action of the cup.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the impregnated pad of my invention, regardless of the nature of the receptacle with which it is associated, will prove a decided boon and a potential safeguard for the public at large in its absolute efiectiveness regardless of the delinquent habits of the user; and that the special pouch or receptacle has decided merit from the View point of simplicity, convenience and exceptional low cost.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A sputum cup formed from an elongated strip of paper or thin cardboard having scored areas, including a diamond score and doubled upon itself to provide flat side Walls and secured in that relation by edge flaps, which seal the side Walls throughout their extent, thereby forming a receptacle which presents a flared opening in response to pressure exerted on theside Walls, said strip having a lip extension also scored to simplify the opening operation, and which functions as a throat and also as a cover.

2. A sputum cup formed from an elongated T strip of paper or thin cardboard having scored areas, including a diamond score and doubled upon itself and secured in that relation by sealing flaps ranging the effective length of the cup, thereby forming a receptacle which presents a flared opening in response to pressure exerted on the side walls, and a pad within said receptacle and impregnated with a substance having disinfecting powers and instantly destructive to tubercular organisms, one of said scored areas providing a cover which participates in the diamond score whereby it is efiective as a prolongation or throat for the cup.

FREDERICK B. KILMER. 

